Tim Wakefield retires

Tim Wakefield announced his retirement from playing baseball in February 2012. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth round in 1988 out of the Florida Institute of Technology. While at Florida Tech he played first base and set the school's single season records of 22 home runs and 71 RBI plus had the career record of 40 home runs. While drafted as a first baseman he was told he wouldn't advance above Double A and he made the position switch to RHP after learning to throw the knuckleball. He pitched two seasons with the Pirates before being released in April 1995. The Boston Red Sox signed him the following week and he pitched 17 years with the team. He twice won the World Series Championship with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. He made one All Star team in 2009. For his career he was 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA, 2156 strikeouts and 1.35 WHIP in 3226.1 innings over 627 games.